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German police arrest six people suspected of smuggling at least 35 tons of cocaine

Between April and September 2023, law enforcement authorities in Belgium, Ecuador and Germany seized about 35 tons of cocaine linked to the activities of this criminal network, Europol said

THE HAGUE, June 17. /TASS/. Europol and German law enforcement agencies dismantled a criminal group that smuggled large quantities of cocaine from South America to the EU, Europol said in a statement.

During raids in Germany on May 31 and June 5, law enforcement agencies arrested six people, searched 24 houses, and seized high-end vehicles, jewelry, cash, electronic equipment and various documents, according to the agency.

Between April and September 2023, law enforcement authorities in Belgium, Ecuador and Germany seized about 35 tons of cocaine linked to the activities of this criminal network, Europol said. The shipments were largely handled at ports in Germany, Belgium and Netherlands.

The investigation also involved law enforcement authorities from Belgium, the Netherlands, Ecuador and Columbia, according to the agency.

Court to continue hearing espionage case of US reporter Gershkovich on August 13

The Sverdlovsk Regional Court held the first hearing in the case on Wednesday

All those suspected of committing murder on border with Russia detained in Abkhazia

Abkhazian Interior Minister Robert Kiut said earlier that three of the seven suspects had been put on a wanted list

Russian army starts active use of motorcycles to seize Ukrainian positions

These bikes helped five Russian servicemen take control of a Ukrainian strongpoint

Wikileaks confirms founder’s arrival on US territory at Saipan Island

"Julian Assange has arrived on US territory at Saipan Island to formalize the plea deal that should never have had to happen," Wikileaks said

Is Gaddafi's gloom prophecy in regard to Europe bound to be fulfilled?

As Europe’s migrant crisis grows far and wide, many Russian media are recalling the late Libyan leader Muamar Gaddafi’s gloom prophecy made several months before his violent death

US 'confrontational hysteria' led to Sevastopol terrorist attack — media

According to the agency, a continuous chain of defeats in the military confrontation with Russia has caused "Ukrainian puppets to resort to reckless terrorism"

Former US intel officer says Russia-DPRK partnership treaty surprised US

Scott Ritter said the US lost a chance to prevent Russia and North Korea from getting closer

Macron says ready for dialogue with Putin

The French leader pointed out that he "believes in the power of dialogue"

Gasum to stop buying Russian LNG from July 26

"Gasum complies with all sanctions imposed by the EU and will not purchase or import Russian LNG as of 26 July," the company informed

Russian troops wipe out large Western-supplied armament depot in Ukraine operation

The Ukrainian army lost more than 610 troops, a tank and seven ammunition depots in battles with Russian forces in the Donetsk area over the past day, the ministry reported

Press review: EU hits Russia with new sanctions and IDF all systems go for Lebanon op

Top stories from the Russian press on Tuesday, June 25th

US sanctions unable to prevent Russia, China from delivering development goals — Lavrov

"I am confident India is also able to do everything it requires for development, if you also fall suddenly from grace. And this is possible," the foreign minister said

British agency reports another incident off coast of Yemen

Accordint to UKMTO, the master of a merchant vessel reported a missile impacted the water in close proximity to the vessel, the crew are reported safe

Talks on Ukraine need to start with clean slate — Lavrov

The top Russian diplomat said Moscow's position on the issue was laid out by Russian President Vladimir Putin on June 14 as he met with the Foreign Ministry leadership

Russian Security Council dismisses ICC’s decision about Shoigu as 'hot air'

The agency said that "the ICC does not have jurisdiction in Russia, and it was taken as part of the West's hybrid war against our country"

'Everyone got what they wanted' in Assange release deal, Kremlin says

WikiLeaks reported earlier that its founder had been released from Britain's Belmarsh prison, where he has been held since 2019, and left the UK by plane

Available nuclear deterrents to ensure Russia's security for decades to come — MFA

"This does not mean that we should ignore what is happening around us," Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov added

Russian troops wipe out two Ukrainian military equipment depots over past day

Russia’s Battlegroup West gained better ground and inflicted about 445 casualties on the Ukrainian army over the past day, the Defense Ministry reported

Dollar losing global reputation — Lavrov

"By the way, this was highlighted by Donald Trump in one of his recent speeches, where he accused Biden administration of ruining the belief in what was the basis for the American domination globally," the top Russian diplomat stressed

Press review: Russia sees US behind Sevastopol attack and Serbian arms flowing to Kiev

Top stories from the Russian press on Monday, 24th

Russian-North Korean treaty has defensive nature — senior Russian diplomat

"When we sign a new framework treaty with North Korea, I am sure, the collective West doesn’t even know its essence," Sergey Ryabkov said

Russian production of semiconductors to grow in coming years — expert

"Background the growth of the Russian market is estimated at around 15% in coming several years, though the growth of Russia’s production in particular is expected to reach at least 20%," CEO of Mikron Gulnara Khasyanova said

One in five Gazans facing extreme lack of food, WHO chief says

"Only an end to the hostilities and immediate, unimpeded and sustained humanitarian access can reduce the risk of a famine occurring in the Gaza Strip," Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said

NATO countries approve Rutte's candidacy for five-year term as Secretary General

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte will replace Norway’s Jens Stoltenberg in October 2024

Zaporozhye nuke plant’s radiation control station destroyed after Ukrainian attack

Background radiation in Energodar where the nuclear facility is located is normal, Russia’s Federal Medical-Biological Agency told reporters

ICQ messenger stops working

"You can chat with friends in VK Messenger, and with colleagues in VK WorkSpace," the website indicates

Plane carrying Wikileaks founder lands in Saipan

The court hearing is set to take place on Saipan at 9:00 a.m. local time on June 26

Putin praises T-90 tank as the best in world

The president noted that any hardware got outdated with time

US doesn’t want civilian deaths in Ukrainian crisis — Pentagon

Pentagon spokesman Patrick Ryder commented on the Russian side's statements on the terrorist attack in Sevastopol

Missile strike on Sevastopol 'act of war' by Washington — Ritter

"Had the Russians done something similar to us, we would be at war with Russia already," the former US intelligence officer and UN inspector said

Ukrainian presidential office refutes plan of Trump’s advisers on settlement — news agency

Mikhail Podolyak reiterated that Kiev only promotes President Vladimir Zelensky's so-called peace formula

Rounds of applause break out as Wikileaks founder walks out of courtroom

Julian Assange declined to make comments to reporters

BRICS to suspend admitting new members for a while — Lavrov

"By the overwhelming majority, the ten nations decided to ‘take a pause’ with new members to ‘take in’ the new members who have doubled the association," he said at a meeting with speaker of Belarus

Ukrainian authorities begin forced evacuation from Toretsk in DPR

On June 22-24, about 500 out of 6,000 residents remaining in Toretsk left the town, Vadim Filashkin said

Human potential in Ukraine not exhausted yet — Russian presidential aide

It is reported that the West is going to fight together with Ukraine until the last Ukrainian

US coalition's drone flies too close to Russian plane in Syria &mdash — top brass

According to Yury Popov, a pair of the coalition’s F-15, a pair of F-16 and a pair of Rafale fighter jets violated Syria’s airspace in the al-Tanf area, across which international air routes run, six times during the day

Erdogan urges Middle Eastern countries to support Lebanon amid tensions with Israel

"The Islamic world and brothers in the Middle East should prevent these bloody plans and stay a step ahead of the West," the Turkish leader stressed

Lavrov says West will allow killing Russians in Ukraine if conflict becomes frozen

The foreign minister said that in recent years Ukraine had adopted laws that banned all things Russian: education, news media, and cultural events

Russia seeks to stem Western security threats, Lavrov says

Russia’s top diplomat fully believes that the country’s neighbors in western Eurasia "could become a lynchpin of the evolving multipolar world order as soon as they come to their senses and realize that the policy course being dictated by Washington is a dead end and runs counter to their own interests"

Moscow warns Seoul not to supply weapons to Kiev — diplomat

"Russia will not stand by and watch as South Korean weapons and military equipment are handed over to Ukrainian neo-Nazis for attacks on Russian territory and the murder of peaceful civilians," Maria Zakharova emphasized

Trump team's plan on Ukraine should factor in situation on battlefield — Kremlin

According to Dmitry Peskov, Russian President Vladimir Putin "has repeatedly said that Russia has been and remains open to negotiations, taking into account the real state of affairs on the ground"

Russia does not recognize ICC’s arrest warrants for Shoigu, Gerasimov — Kremlin

According to Dmitry Peskov, Moscow considers the warrants as quite absurd as the previous two ones that related to the head of state and the Russian children’s ombudswoman

Moscow - St. Petersburg high speed rail to cost $20.6 bln — Finance Ministry

The railroad with the length of 679 km will cover six regions: Moscow and St. Petersburg, Leningrad, Novgorod, Tver, and Moscow Regions

Putin not planning to speak to Vucic for now, Kremlin aide says

The Primakov Readings international forum is being held in Moscow on June 25-26

'Little left of Ukraine to salvage' if peace talks don’t start soon — retired colonel

"That latter objective, heinous as it is, has failed abjectly to be achieved," Lawrence Wilkerson pointed out

Top UK diplomat signals NATO’s rejection of Ukraine in prank call — spokeswoman

"Both Cameron and this tubby man from the UK Defense Ministry (former UK Defense Secretary Ben Wallace - TASS) likely wanted to get some publicity through Vovan and Lexus, and, perhaps, float the idea that Ukraine will never be a part of NATO," the diplomat wrote on her Telegram channel

Russia sees no conditions for normalizing dialogue with West — Kremlin

Dmitry Peskov stressed that restoring ties "depends on the stance of our counterparts"

Serbia selling weapons to legitimate users, not going to apologize — President Vucic

According to the Serbian leader, the hype around this topic in the Western and regional mass media is geared to complicate Serbia’s relations with Russia

French politician calls to end 'anti-Russian hysteria' after Russia bans EU media

Florian Philippot pointed out that Russia was retaliating 27 months after the EU had banned several Russian media in March 2022, which is "very nice"

North Korean missile most likely exploded in air — news agency

South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said earlier that the launch of a ballistic missile from Pyongyang into the Sea of Japan most likely failed

US walks fine line on sanctions to keep global oil prices in check — WSJ

The West imposed sanctions on Russian oil on December 5, 2022

North Korean trash-carrying balloons arrive in Seoul

According to South Korea, DPRK launched about 350 balloons last night

Senior Russian diplomat sees risks of direct armed clash between nuclear powers as high

Sergey Ryabkov also said Western opponents deliberately make unacceptable conditions for security talks with Moscow

Pentagon rapidly expanding its military-biological presence in Africa — top brass

Igor Kirillov drew attention to the fact that Metabiota’s activity in Africa was wound up after "too many questions about its methods arose from national governments"

Russian, US defense chiefs exchange views on situation around Ukraine in first phone call

Andrey Belousov highlighted the danger of further escalation due to continued US weapons supplies to the Ukrainian armed forces

Reports about armed man in central Makhachkala prove to be false — interior ministry

"Police checked operational information," the Dagestani interior ministry said

ICC’s claim of intent to cooperate with Russia absurd, Kremlin spokesman tells TASS

Zelensky orders to form drone formation as separate arm of forces

"The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine shall submit in a specified time for the consideration of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine a corresponding proposal to create in the armed forces of Ukraine the Unmanned systems forces as a separate arm of forces," the council said

West's underestimation of Russia’s ability to use nuclear weapons could be fatal — MFA

Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov is certain that Russia has the resource to convey signals to the West in the sphere of nuclear deterrence even despite its opponents' reluctance to conduct a sober dialogue

Russian diplomat lambasts Kiev’s statement about Crimea as Nazism 2.0

"All they have done is dress this Nazism up with US-supplied weapons," Maria Zakharova stressed

Lavrov says attacks in Crimea, Dagestan were possibly synchronized — BelTA

On June 23, a group of terrorists attacked two Orthodox churches and two synagogues in Derbent and Makhachkala

Russian diplomat warns Ukraine could suffer huge losses if it attempts another offensive

Maria Zakharova said the Ukrainian government has little concern that, if they go ahead with the plan, losses could be "even more terrible than the catastrophic losses that the Ukrainian armed forces suffered during the previous such reckless move in the summer of 2023"

Russia, Germany can restore relations, but Moscow will not run after anyone — Lavrov

The top Russian diplomat noted that the current authorities in Kiev deserve the role of an instrument in the hands of the United States, but it is humiliating for Europe

Russia to replace destroyed ZNPP radiation control post

The Ukrainian military delivered a strike at the post in Velikaya Znamenka

Confiscation of Helsinki Hall from Russian owners ahead 'with 99% certainty' — newspaper

The sellers of the arena through the company Arena Events are Russian owners Gennady Timchenko and the Rotenberg family, the media clarifies

Methane ignition occurs at Uralkali mine in Solikamsk

The company’s production facilities are functioning normally

Wikileaks founder pleads guilty in deal with US that secures his freedom — agency

Julian Assange pleaded guilty to a single felony charge for publishing US military secrets in federal court in Saipan

Russia backs Syria’s demand for withdrawal of illegal troops, envoy says

According to Vasily Nebenzya, Russia believes that "it’s only possible to achieve sustainable unity in the Syrian Arab Republic by putting an end to foreign military presence."

US defense secretary speaks over phone with Russian defense minister — Pentagon

Secretary Austin also spoke by phone today with Russian Minister of Defense Andrey Belousov

Senior Russian diplomat calls for preventing 'nuclear chaos'

"The multipolar nuclear world and the role of multilateral treaties in the realm of arms control and non-proliferation is a very interesting issue that deserves in-depth discussion," Sergey Ryabkov added

Documents show Kiev took interest in weapons of mass destruction — Russian ministry

The research was conducted under an agreement that was signed in 2005 between the US Department of Defense and the Ukrainian Health Ministry for cooperation in preventing the spread of technologies, pathogens, and information that could be used to develop biological weapons

Washington’s role in Sevastopol terror attack indisputable — MFA

"Four people died, among them a two-year-old playing on the city beach and a nine-year-old girl," while as many as 151 people sought medical help, 82 of them were hospitalized, according to the statement

US intention to inflict 'strategic defeat' on Russia 'doomed to failure' — Lavrov

"There is an impression that the US ruling elites have not learned any lessons from their recent numerous foreign policy and military failures," the foreign minister noted

West crosses its own red line — Chinese expert on strikes on Russia

Zheng Runyu called these attacks unacceptable and drew attention to the fact that such actions "have no strategic or practical military significance"

Russia to handle sanctions, deal with attempts to harm it — Medvedev

According to the politician, with the exception of sanctions against the Artek international children’s center, "it is boring even to list" the new sanctions

France not to send troops to fight in Ukraine in near future — Macron

The French president said that he understands concerns of those who "are afraid that the conflict might spread into France"

Ex-US official involved in WMD activities in Ukraine — Russian military

Igor Kirillov also mentioned Sergey Komisarenko, who interacted with the Pentagon on behalf of the National Academy of Sciences and supervised dual-use research, conducted on the basis of subordinate organizations

Police withdraws cordon at Universitetskaya Square in downtown Makhachkala

The Ministry of the Interior press office also said that the report about an armed man in downtown Makhachkala, received by the police, has not been confirmed

Eurasian countries join efforts to counter US hegemony — Lavrov

"But it is a fact that the course towards control from the ocean of everything that occurs everywhere is now countered by the course towards uniting the efforts of Eurasian countries," the top Russian diplomat stressed

Assange plea deal hearing gets underway — agency

The Associated Press points out that dozens of media workers from all over the world have gathered near the court building to cover the hearing

Republic of Congo president arrives in Moscow

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov visited the Republic of the Congo on June 3-4 and held talks with the country’s president

Belarus scrambles Su-30SM fighter jet in snap combat readiness check

A surprise combat readiness inspection of Belarusian troops to fulfil assigned missions began on June 21

Kenyan President orders to send military to suppress riots

The troops will be sent to protect your property and your peace, so that the people of Kenya could go to bed without worries for their property," he said

Russia not dodging dialogue with West but wants it to be equal — Lavrov

The top Russian diplomat recalled that around 30 countries want to join cooperation with BRICS

Security should be built on Eurasian models — Lavrov

The top Russian diplomat does not expect this realization to come any time soon, as NATO, along with the Americans, are "fiercely trying to justify their penetration into the Asia-Pacific region"

Russian troops should scale up FAB-3000 bomb strikes at key Ukrainian army sites — expert

"Considering a substantial strike effect of this munition, its use can be recognized as successful," Igor Korotchenko underlined

Russian jet stops US drone from crossing border over Black Sea – Defense Ministry

The Russian Ministry of Defense reported that a US Air Force RQ-4B Global Hawk was approaching the Russian border

Russia to block access to 81 EU media outlets — MFA

The ministry noted that the Russian side has repeatedly and at various levels warned that "politically motivated harassment of domestic journalists and unfounded bans on Russian media in the EU will not go unanswered"

US reaction to Putin's initiative means it doesn't need peace in Ukraine — ambassador

Anatoly Antonov stressed that the initiative outlined by the Russian president "will require colossal efforts and political determination"

Wikileaks founder departs island of Saipan for Canberra

The jet is expected to land at 7:30 p.m.

Lavrov keeps hope alive that trust can be rebuilt with West

According to the top Russian diplomat, the West is an untrustworthy partner, as history has shown

Future NATO chief Rutte to hardly change alliance’s hostile line towards Russia — Kremlin

Ambassadors of 32 NATO countries have approved the candidacy of Mark Rutte, who lost the Dutch election for the post of prime minister, to serve as the alliance's chief for the next five years, the press service reported earlier

ICC issues arrest warrants for Russia’s Shoigu, Gerasimov

According to the International Criminal Court, Sergey Shoigu and Valery Gerasimov are "allegedly responsible" for directing attacks at objects in Ukraine

MAKS airshow rescheduled for 2025 — organizers

Earlier in the day, the Russian government released a resolution canceling the airshow in 2024

Gazprom opens its representative office in Uzbekistan — Russian trade mission

In May, the Uzbek energy ministry and Russia’s Gazprom Neft passed a roadmap on expansion of cooperation, the trade mission noted

Russia knows well who is behind attack on Crimea, who aims missiles — Kremlin

"It is not the Ukrainians who provide for these launches," Dmitry Peskov said

Lavrov says West will allow killing Russians in Ukraine if conflict becomes frozen

According to the top Russian diplomat, American experts proposed to end hostilities and suggested "looking at the Korean scenario"

Analyst warns of potential risks after attack destroys radiation monitoring post near ZNPP

"Radiation control posts play a key role in monitoring the radiation background and ensuring the safety of the population," Alexander Uvarov said

Judge sentences Wikileaks founder Julian Asssange to time served — agency

According to Reuters, Assange will be able to walk free from the courtroom on Wednesday after the judge approved a plea deal with prosecutors

Press review: Indian PM to visit Moscow and EU-Ukraine accession talks officially begin

Top stories from the Russian press on Wednesday, June 26th

Politician blames former British PM for Ukrainian battle casualties

The Reform UK leader Nigel Farage did not rule out that Ukraine would have to give up some of its territories in order to put an end to fighting